August 20, 2013 : Lancaster Native Member of The David Mayfield Parade

- Cheri RussoCommunications and Marketing Manager
Lancaster – A member of The David Mayfield Parade grew up in Lancaster and is excited to perform for his hometown and family when the band plays at the Ohio University Lancaster Campus on September 13.

"I really look forward to playing in Lancaster," said Bass Player Evan Parker. "I cut my teeth in that town. I learned how to play the bass in that town. My best friends and closest friends still live there. Everything about my life is generally rooted around Lancaster."

The David Mayfield Parade plays a kind of music that Parker admits is hard to describe. The 2001 Lancaster High School graduate says it is a little bluegrass, a little punk rock, a little Americana and a little folk rock.

"We are a little bit of everything," said Parker. "We try to encompass all the fun aspects of as many genres as much as we can."

"Imagine Chris Farley from the Chippendales Saturday Night Live skit and add in that he also played the banjo," said Front Man David Mayfield while laughing. "That's us."

The David Mayfield Parade show is part of a partnership between the Lancaster Festival and Ohio University Lancaster to bring up-and-coming artists to the campus twice a year. The show will be outside on the Herrold Hall Patio. If weather is an issue, then the show will be moved inside Brasee Hall to the Wagner Theatre.

Mayfield has performed with The Avett Brothers and Mumford & Sons. In those performances, Mayfield put his energy and charisma on full display. The David Mayfield Parade show is said to be one that will bring audiences to their feet.

"I think there have been a lot of really great gateway bands that have brought this kind of music to the surface," said Parker. "There are a lot of catchy and powerful things that can be done with old instruments."

"Anything goes during our shows," said Mayfield. "You never know what's going to happen next and neither do we."

Mayfield grew up in Ohio as well. He is originally from the Newton Falls area in northeast Ohio. He grew up playing bass and touring with his family's bluegrass band. As a teenager he established himself as a hot picker collecting national awards for his dexterity on guitar and mandolin.

This is the third act in a concert series put on by OUL and the Lancaster Festival. The previous two acts have careers that are on the rise as they make waves in the music business. Last November, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit played in the Wagner Theatre with opening act, Amada Shires. Isbell was recently featured on NPR and "The David Letterman Show," while an article on Shires appeared recently in the Wall Street Journal. In May, Singer/Songwriter Joe Pug performed at OUL. Pug is now preparing for a short European tour in September.

The evening will kick off at 6:30pm with food and beer available and opening act, Forcynthia. Tickets for general admission show can be purchased by going to www.lancasterfestival.org.